Where does the term 'Cottage Industry' come from?

[Reephdweller]

I know what a cottage industry is, but where does the phrase come from? I'll hear it every once in a while when I new form of business springs up, or a new industry, etc... but what is the origin of this term?

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[FUNKMAN]

sounds pretty 'cheesy' to me...

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sig by ADF...

[furie]

i've never heard that term before. What does it mean?

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[badorties]

Main Entry: cottage industry
Function: noun
Date: 1921
1 : an industry whose labor force consists of family units or individuals working at home with their own equipment
2 : a small and often informally organized industry

probably originates from the feudal days when the blacksmith, the butcher and so forth conducted their business at home ....

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